Where figure-hugging gowns or net saris are what we've come to expect from the Bollywood red carpet, refreshingly this season of award ceremonies had enough A-list experimental styles to validate the theory that formal Indian ethnic wear is undergoing a major evolution.

Deepika Padukone effortlessly deconstructed the classic lehenga into a minimal crop top-and-sweeping-skirt combo for the Star Guild Awards, courtesy Shehlaa by Shehla Khan. Neha Dhupia followed suit in her Payal Singhal choli paired with a mismatched Anju Modi ghagra at the Filmfare awards.

Jacqueline Fernandez wore an uncharacteristically conservative style on the Star Guild red carpet, choosing to let the elegant zardosi on her Anand Kabra jacket stand out. Vaani Kapoor went the opposite route, picking this cross between a mermaid gown and lehenga by Nikhil Thampi to show off her svelte figure. A bare back and Manish Arora for Amrapali accessories helped establish Vaani Kapoor's red carpet ensemble as one of the most memorable.

Always a favourite at Indian award ceremonies, the classic sari was also in experimental mode.

At the Filmfare festivities, Dia Mirza swapped the favoured ghagra for black leggings in her Shantanu & Nikhil ensemble, with hard-to-miss spike detailing on the shoulder.

At the Star Guild ceremony, Richa Chadda's pre-constructed sari by Varun Bahl, about as sexy as they come, made a strong case for ditching the Little Black Dress in favour of the Little Black Sari. Pitching in with a sheer number by Nikhil Thampi for the Screen awards, Kalki proved that a little leg goes a long way.

But the prize for most subtly unconventional sari went to newly-minted film director Divya Khosla in her white Nachiket Barve. Choosing a shade more commonly associated with funerals than festivities, Khosla made it appropriate for the Star Guild red carpet by piling on the kundan.